Lock



Nov. 4, 1947. J, UICK 2,430,391

LOCK Original Filed Feb. 8, 1943 Patented Nov. 4, 1947 LOCK Henry J.Dequick, Chicago, 111., assignor to Illi nois Lock Company, Chicago,111., a corporation of Illinois Original application February 8, 1943,Serial No. 475,116, new Patent No. 2,374,669, dated May .1, 1945.Divided and this application February 19, 1945, Serial No. 578,588. Alsosubstitute for 3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to looks of the type which employ arotatable cylinder plug wherein are carried one or more key-operatedtumblers adapted to be projected outwardly into engagement with achannel which is extended lengthwise of the surrounding shell or bodywherein the plug is mounted. The present improvements are directed to areleasable spring lock whereby the plug may be secured rotatably, yetremovably, within its mounting, the lock being in the form of a splitring which tends to expand outwardly so as to lie partly within certainarcuate or peripheral grooves in the confronting surfaces of the plugand mounting; and

more particularly to a projection of the spring ends into the tumblerchannel when the spring is in its normal expanded locking position, thespring ends being then accessible, for manipulation, by a tool which isinserted into the tumbler channel from one end thereof, to contract thespring whereby to free the plug for release axially from its mounting.Such a feature is advantageous whenever disassembly of the lock plug isdesired, as when adjustment or replacement of parts is to be made eitherin the factory or elsewhere.

A releasable spring ring lock of this character may also beincorporated, with perhaps special utility, in a lock of the padlocktype as herein shown and described by way of example. A prior disclosureof the invention was made in my application filed February 8, 1943,Serial No. 475,116, now Patent No. 2,374,669 dated May 1, 1945, of whichthis case is a division. This application is also a substitute for myabandoned application, Serial Number 533,469, filed May 1, 1944.

In the accompanying drawings is set forth a suggestive embodiment of myinvention, as applied to a padlock exemplification, in the mannerfollowing:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section and perspective of the padlock inits locked position;

F r 2 s a ran ve se s ction taken on ine 2T2 of Figure 1;

Figs. 3 and l are similar views, the former sho i he l ng a s retract dby k ya on of the lo to free. the shackle for lon itudinal m me t nto oro t oi the lock y. these same parts, in the latter view, being in theposition which they occupy following release of torsion force by the keywith the shackle fully advanced out of the lock' body;

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the cylin,

andoned application Serial No. 533,469, Mar

der plug-bolt-driving gear assembly, these parts being axially alignedbut in slightly spaced relation; and

Figure 7 is a view inperspective of the gear block per se.

The padlock herein shown comprise a body A wherein is an elongatedcylindrical chamber at opening onto the upper end of the body, a secondcylindrical chamber b, in spaced parallel relation theret openin ontothe same body end, and a third cylindrical chamber 0, parallel with .theothers, opening onto the opposite body end, and in offset, butcommunicating, relation to the second chamber. Between the first andsecond chambers is a transverse passageway d in communication with eachand with the third chamber which is made of relatively larger diameter.If this passageway continues .on to one or both edges of the body A,then a plug (or plugs) I 0 may be secured in place to provide an endclosure (or closures) therefor.

Within the third chamber is mounted a cylinder plug 1B which may be ofthe usual sliding tumbler type. As by means of a suitable key (notshown) the plug may be operated to project its tumblers l I oppositelyinto positions within arcuate channels 12 and 13 extending lengthwisewithin the chamber whereby to secure the plug against rotary movement.At the inner end of the plug is a head I5 formed with a circumferentialgroove 16 wherein may be seated a split ring 0 whose two ends I 8 areoutwardly turned to lie substantially parallel in spaced relation. Indiametrically opposite regions, each about distant from its two ends,the ring is provided with two outwardly extended arcuate protrusions 19adapted to lie within a pair of arcuate grooves 2.0 iormed interiorly ofthe chamber 0 in a plane transversely of its axis. When the cylindricalplug iS fitted in place, the spring ring will bc seated within thecylindrical groove it of the head and also within the arcuate grooves 20as well, so as to secure the plug against removal, The two ring ends,however, will lie within the ch nnel 12 so as to be accessible forengagement by the V-slotted end 21 of an elongated tool or key 22 whenadvanced lengthwise into this channel from the upper end of the lockbody, as will hereinafter be explained.

Upon the inner face of the plug head is a lug 25 extending arcuatelythrough about 90 and concentric with the axis thereof. This lug isadapted to engage alternately the opposite ends of a second lug 26,extending arcuately'about the same axis through or so, and carried upon2. cy

coincident with the confronting walls of the chamber 0 whereby thelatter is adapted to furnish an adequate bearing therefor; in addition;

the curved inner face of the arcuate lug is substantially coincidentwith the body of'the bolt D whereby to supplement the bearing aforesaid.The bolt is accordingly free to rotate coaxially with the plug, in onedirection responsive to motion transmitted by the latter, and in theopposite direction in response to the tension exerted by a spring 28which is coiled about the bolt with its two ends anchored respectivelythereto (as in the slot 29) and the lock body (as in the channel l3).Due to tension of the spring the bolt is normally maintained in a fixedrotative position relative to the plug, so as to move therewith, butmay, in response to a counter force, move independently thereof througha limited distance--90 being the limit therein indicated. Extendingaxially beyond the bolt head 21 is a cylindrical stem 30 terminating ina diametrical tongue 3!. It will be observed that the cylinder plug B isdevoid of any connection with the bolt D, and the latter is unconnectedwith the body within whose chamber 0 it is accommodated, except for oneend of the spring 28 which is free to Slide in and out of the channel I3whenever the bolt is in process of insertion within or removal from thepadlock body.

The passageway 01 is adapted to receive a block Q E in the general formof a plate having flanges depending from its opposite sides and posts 36upstanding from its four corners, whereby to serve as spacers forengaging the bottom and top faces, respectively, of the passageway. Thelength of the block is substantially equal to the distance between theaxes of the chambers a and b, so that, at opposite ends thereof, I haveprovided arcuate notches 3'! whereby to assure a registration of thecurved faces thus formed with the adjacent walls of these two chambers.Through the block in one end region thereof is a circular hole 38 and ina corresponding position in the other end region is an upstandingcircularboss 39. The axis of the hole 38 is substantially coincidentwith that of the chamber 0 so as to freely receive the stem 30projecting from the bolt D and furnish a supporting bearing therefor.

The upper face of the block affords a mounting for a pair of meshinggears F and G, the former being provided with a flattened centralopening 40 wherein the tongue 3| may be received to transmit a rotaryforce thereto whereby it may drive the second gear wherein is an axialhole through which is extended the boss 39 about which this gear isfreely rotatable. One fullradius section of the periphery of the drivinggear F is arcuate concentrically with its axis, an adjacent flat section46 is disposed tangentially to a shorter radius, and a third section,extending between a pair of shoulders 41 and 48, is provided with teeth49. The driven gear G is formed in one section, between shoulders 50 and5|, with teeth 52 meshing with those on the companion driving gear F,with an adjacent flat section 53 tangential to a shorter radius, one endof the flattened section being provided with a projecting heel 54, andwith a third section 55 Qt f ll-r d us extending from the heel arcuatelyconcentrically with the axis of the gear to join the proximate end ofthe flattened section 53. Two meshing gears so formed will have capacityfor rotary movement through approximately from the position of Fig. 2 tothat of Fig. 3 and vice versa, the limits being reached uponinterengagement of the shoulders 48 and 50 (Fig. 2) of 41 and 5| (Fig.3). In the position of Fig. 3, following operation of the cylinder plug,the two flats 46 and 53 occupy parallel furthest removed positions andthe arcs 45 and 55 adjacent positions along one of the longer sides ofthe block; whereas in Fig. 2 the positions of the two flats and two arcsare substantially reversed,

To complete the padlock I employ a shackle H having long and short arms60 and 6|, respectively, the former receivable within th chamber a andthe latter within the chamber b. Each arm is by preference formed ofcylindrical stock having a diameter very slightly smaller than that ofthe two chambers so as to be freely slidable longitudinally thereof. Inthe two shackle arms are facing transverse concave notches 62 and 63each accommodating the full-radius arc section of the proximate gearwhen the parts are in the normal locking position of Fig. 2. Efiectiverestraint against longitudinal movement of the shackle is therebyprovided for each of its two arms. In the other extreme position,however (Fig. 3), this means of restraint, i. e., the full-radius arcs,is withdrawn, the flats (tangential to shorter radii) then lyingopposite, but exteriorly of, the two notches whereby the shackle is freefor longitudinal movement. For a limited distance from the notch 63 thelong arm is flattened, as at 64, along its inner face and then beveledinwardly at 65 to join a neck 66 of reduced diameter which adjoins atransverse shoulder 6'! beyond which full diameter of the shackle isagain resumed. Such a construction permits the shackle, when fullyadvanced outwardly, to swing freely through 360 since (a) its short armis then free of the padlock body, (b) the flat 53 of the gear G willprevent the shackle from advancing outwardly beyond the point ofengagement of the shoulder 61 therewith, and (c) the neck 66 ofrelatively small diameter will be disposed opposite this gear which isthen incapable of opposing swinging movement of the shackle about theaxis of its longer leg.

In operation, the key-operated cylinder plug will, under influence ofthe spring 28, tend to return the parts to the normal locking positionof Fig. 2. So long as the shackle remains in its out position thiscannot take place, but only a very slight return movement (see Fig. 4)to the extent of whatever play is present between the operating parts.In this last position the heel 54 will be advanced against the neck 66to act as a brake against too-free swinging movement of the shackle. Torestore the shackle to locked condition, its short arm is first broughtto position opposite the chamber 17, which thereupon places the long armflat 64 and gear flat 53 opposite each other to clear the way for inmovement of the shackle in response to a force sufficient (a) tooverbalance counter tension of a spring '50 which is confined betweenthe end of the shackle long arm and the end of the chamber a, and (b) todisplace the heel 54 of the driven gear as the beveled face 65 isadvanced therealong,

To remove the cylinder plug, the shackle short arm is first removed fromthe chamber b to expose the upper end of the channel 12; a thin tool orkey 22 is then inserted into the channel to the point of engaging,within the V-slot 2| at its acting end, the outturned ends of the splitring which is thereupon contracted sufficiently to permit axial releaseof the cylinder plug from the chamber c. Withdrawal of the bolt D mayreadily follow, and with this part removed the blockE may be shiftedendwise away from the long arm of the shackle a distance suflicient tofree the shackle for separation from the padlock body.

The releasable spring lock herein disclosed is characterized byextension of its two outturned spaced ends into the tumbler channelwhose innermost end may be exposed to receive an elongated tool havingan acting end adapted, upon manipulation, to effect a contraction of thespring when engaged with the ends thereof. The spring is non-circular inshape, having opposed portions, located preferably about 90 from thespring ends, spaced apart a greater radial distance so as to liesubstantially outside the cylinder described by the plug wheninterlocked with the surrounding chamber walls which provide a mountingtherefor; and other opposed portions spaced apart a lesser radialdistance so as to lie substantially within the confines of the cylinderplug. A ring of this character normally remains spaced from the plug atopposite points, and upon forcing its separated ends together the ringis then contracted with greatest inward movement taking place at pointsabout 90 from its ends; here are located the outermost portions whichmove inwardly a distance sufficient to clear the surrounding walls,thereby freeing the cylinder plug for movement axially out of itsmounting.

I claim:

1. In a look, a chambered mounting and therewithin a rotatable cylinderplug, a split spring ring in connection with the mounting and plug forreleasably securing the plug within the mounting, the spring ends beingoutturned and there being a channel extending longitudinally of themounting adjacent one side thereof for receiving in one longitudinalportion of the channel the ends of tumblers projected from the plug andalso for accommodating in another longitudinal portion of the channelthe outturned ends of the spring rin whereby to be accessible to a toolextended into the channel, irrespective of the positions of the tumblersin relation thereto, for engagement by such tool to exert thereon aforce counter to the spring tension of the ring for contracting the sameto a position of release relative to the mounting.

2. In a lock, a chambered mounting and therewithin a rotatable cylinderplug supporting a plurality of radially slidable locking tumblers, asplit spring ring in connection with the mounting and plug forreleasably securing the plug within the mounting, the spring ends beingoutturned and there being a channel extending longitudinally of themounting adjacent one side thereof for receiving the ends of lockingtumblers in one longitudinal portion of the channel and in anotherlongitudinal portion of the channel the outturned ends of the springring whereby to be accessible to a tool extended into the channel,irrespective of the positions of the tumblers in relation thereto, forengagement by such tool to exert thereon a force counter to the springtension of the ring for contracting the same to a position of releaserelative to the mounting.

3. In a lock, a chambered mounting and therewithin a rotatablecylindrical plug supporting a plurality of radially slidable lockingtumblers, a split spring ring in connection with the mounting and plugfor releasably securing the plug within the mounting, the spring endsbeing outturned and spaced from each other and there being a channelextending longitudinally of the mounting adjacent one side thereof forreceiving the ends of locking tumblers in one longitudinal portion ofthe channel and in another longitudinal portion of the channel theoutturned spaced ends of the spring ring, the ring diameter beinggreatest at a point substantially equidistant from its ends where it isextended outwardly beyond the cylinder described by the plug, thechannel being open at one end and the spring ends therewithin beingaccessible to a tool extended into the channel from its open end,irrespective of the positions of the tumblers in relation thereto, forengagement by such tool to receive therefrom a force counter to thespring tension of the ring for contracting the ring to a maximumdiameter no greater than that of the plug whereby to free the plug foraxial release from its mounting.

H. J. DEQUICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,773,733 Jacobi Aug. 26, 19301,761,092 Shinn June 3, 1930 1,979,095 .Brauning Oct. 30, 1934 2,141,748Hansen Dec. 27, 1938

